Chapter 13: Battle (2)

"Hey, look where you're going!" Dean shouted loudly when he felt the monster wanted to turn around and run away from him.

The hedgehog monster repeatedly showed its thorns, but it didn't work on Dean in beast mode. That man was completely immune to the monster's attacks.

Dean delivered his final blow, sending the monster tumbling violently backwards. There was no one around as he had already moved away from the battlefield.

Boom!

The hedgehog monster crashed into a huge rock hill, looking like a cliff. Several boulders fell and hit his body.

"Arrrggh!"

Thanks to the rocks, the monster finally screamed before collapsing. The thorns that appeared as a result of feeling threatened went back in, to their original place.

Dean looked at the monster with a cold gaze. He approached the monster without looking around.

Ssshhh ....

The wind suddenly felt strange. Dean sensed that there was someone other than himself there. He looked around to keep an eye out. A familiar aura entered his nostrils.

"Come out." Again, Dean said in a cold, condescending tone.

Someone appeared behind the tree, a beautiful woman. Half of her face was covered by a hand fan, it was a graceful gesture. That woman looked very seductive.

This time, she was wearing a red dress with flowers in her ears. Pretty, very pretty. It matches her white hair and red eyes perfectly.

"Helena Desmo, is this your doing?"

Dean looked at Helena with a hostile glance. That man seemed to dislike her.

"Hmm ... how, huh? Do I have to answer you, hmm?" Helena answered the question with another question using a teasing tone.

Dean tried to neutralize his thoughts so as not to get too emotional. Helena's focused aura with a seductive scent was useless to Dean. That man just wanted to get out of there.

That man walked away from the hedgehog monster, until Helena said, "That's funny. You raise monsters, but when you grow up, you exterminate monsters."

Click!

There was the sound of something coming loose, it was Dean's common sense. He turned around and attacked Helena, just before she could get out of the way.

Despite being choked, Helena looked at that man defiantly. "What's wrong with my words?"

"Shut your mouth, bitch!"

Dean only took out his emotions on the executive members of his guild. However, Helena was another case. That woman had been involved in something in their past.

"You live in the forest of Tryton Kingdom, why are you here? You're not interfering with the war, are you?" Dean accused Helena unilaterally.

Helena replied, "Of course not. This is good hunting territory. I sell monster carcasses here to organizations in Garunam Kingdom's greetings. Whereas near where I live, I sell them to the Free City or Tryton Kingdom. Both places are equally good."

That woman looked at Dean's hand that was still bulging with veins, then commented, "Your body muscles are very good, but I don't like beast people. It's different from the skinny person with the smell of mana and strange aura yesterday."

Dean didn't answer her. However, he realized who Helena was. Therefore, he replied, "Don't mess with humans or other animals anymore. Stop that seductive aura of yours, do all vampires like to do this like a bitch?"

Helena dismissed Dean's hand that was in hers, then went back to covering the lower area of her face with a hand fan. "Looks like this K-Night Assassin Guild Leader really likes meddling in other people's business."

"Yes, and you're very fond of thwarting other people's plans. Consider that monster your quarry, I won't take it in exchange for getting out of my sight." Dean swore in annoyance at Helena's movements which he found annoying.

No wonder Dean gave in like that. He just didn't want to prolong the problem. However, what Helena said next could not keep him quiet.

"Is your pet okay?"

Brugh!

"Watch your tongue!"

Dean choked Helena again, this time pushing her against the tree. That woman laughed a little as she managed to touch Dean's weakness.

"Hey, baby. You're so sensitive, I told you I could cure it." Helena laughed with a gasp.

"One more time you bring it up, I'll destroy your family."

Dean released his hand that was choking Helena. Before leaving, he punched the tree trunk right next to Helena's head and turned around. He didn't want to face that woman any longer.

What had happened between them should be in the past.

***

"I was born with the name Rudolf behind me. I am Sandy Rudolf."

Whigeris who heard that was quite amazed. He did not know who that person was, but recognized which family his surname belonged to.

"As far as I know, Duke Rudolf is a neutral person. That's also because Isaac Rudolf was a bastard and didn't think about the throne. You don't want to seize it?" Whigeris seemed to be playing around with Sandy.

The atmosphere there seemed tense. Cindy couldn't even move from there. Even though there were several royal knights who had realized themselves and stepped aside.

"Pfffttt ... Hahahahaha!"

Sandy suddenly laughed out loud. He touched his stomach and tapped his foot. The silver-gray aura she gave off disappeared.

That man moved closer to Whigeris, right in front of him, and brought his lips close to his opponent's ear. "Hey, whether I become a prince or fight the empire, it's my business."

Clang!

Whigeris easily put away the sword that suddenly appeared from Sandy's side. That was without using aura.

"Looks like you're eager to die for not using aura at all."

Sandy laughed again at that. I don't know why Whigeris was uncomfortable with her. It looked like Sandy thought of herself as a friend of the same age.

"Are you a knight? If so, you must fight someone equally. If your opponent does not use a weapon, you should fight him without a weapon as well. Are you not an honorable person? Hehehehe ...."

Hearing Sandy's reply, he felt his pride was slightly hurt. Whigeris dispelled his aura that was blazing red from earlier. Then, he positioned his stance properly. "Come on, knight."

Cling!

That two men fought each other using their sword martial arts. As the Captain of the Western Region Knights Brigade, Sandy Rudolf was proud of the sword arts inherited from his family. He grew up to be a good boy and was lovingly educated.

Whigeris, on the other hand, who was born as an orphan in the slums, learned to be self-sufficient so that his talents were noticed by the knights, and he was appointed as an official knight of the empire. He was proud of himself for having nothing, becoming the youngest Sword Master on the Gigana Continent.

That was until he met this man named Sandy Rudolf. One look at his aura and she knew that he was at the beginning of the Sword Master stage.

Of course, Sandy knew that he would fail against an old Sword Master. Hence, he provoked a duel in a chivalrous manner. There was a chance of victory for him if he fought fairly.

Crack!

Whigeris easily dodged Sandy's attacks multiple times. He said, "Why would you fight me fairly like this. No matter how you fight, you still lose."

Sandy smiled a freakish smile. "Because I'm honored to be dueling with one of the eight Sword Masters on the Gigana Continent."

"Hahahahahaha!"

Whigeris burst out laughing. He was surprised and felt a little refreshed. "You are very interesting. Compared to the nobles who treat me like a doll. You treat me accordingly. Okay, I'll take you seriously."

That man demonstrated another stance. He shook his sword slightly, then took a step forward. "Come on, Newbie."

Clang!

That two man fought seriously. Sandy this time was on the receiving end and on defense. Whigeris continued to attack him time and time again. That red-haired man seemed to enjoy it this time.

Cring!

Sandy seemed to be pushed backwards. Because he was now on the defensive. The sword hit Sandy's hand and cheek several times, leaving his handsome face with a few scratches.

While being cornered, Sandy chuckled. He murmured, "It seems like men do put too much importance on their pride."

He looked directly at Whigeris who was already in front of him. "Let's just say today is your bad luck day, Dude. See you in hell."

Doom!

Whigeris felt something strange behind him. He turned around to find a huge fireball ready to strike him.

Crack!

Sandy's sudden attack from behind made Whigeris focus from two directions. He dodged Sandy's sword first until the end.

"Fotiá!"

Doom!

Thick smoke gathered there. Fortunately, the high-wall fortress did not catch fire and only left traces of burning. It was only slightly cracked because Cindy had not exhausted the mana.

"He disappeared." Cindy muttered to herself as she saw that where Whigeris stood, only traces of blood remained.

Of course, the Sword Master had escaped with his aura. There were traces and odors of the aura left there. Surely he would not have expected that there would be an opponent who cheated despite acting as a fair opponent in the beginning.

Sandy felt her legs go weak, he fell to her knees. Then looked at Cindy. "Hey, you did great. Thanks for helping us."

That man looked genuinely grateful. Cindy felt that man seemed nice, she shyly and stammeringly replied, "T-thank you too."

The captain of the Southern Region Knights Brigade, climbed onto the wall. He carried an exhausted Sandy on his shoulders.

Sandy looked down at the knights who were staring at him. "Why are you silent? This is our victory. Where's the cheer?"

"Yahooooooo! Woaaah!"

Hearing Sandy's words, the knights below cheered cheerfully. The strange war was resolved in victory.

On the other side, in the distance, Whigeris gave them an annoyed look and clucked before leaving the place.